Exhibitions bring Argentina, Macedonia and Flanders closer together

  • May 17, 2013
Ukulogisch Museum

On 15 May 2013, Mr Gustavo Vásquez Ocampo, Argentine ambassador to Belgium, Mr Dree Peremans, Chairman of the “Fundación Patagonista”, and Secretary-General of the Flemish Department of Foreign Affairs Koen Verlaeckt opened a vast exhibition that tied in to the Argentinian-Belgian project of the “Puentes” festival, which took place all across Brussels during the month of May. The exhibition, which was open to the public in the Boudewijn Building of the Government of Flanders, combined over 50 works of contemporary art by 30 Argentinian artists with playful works on Patagonia by over 20 visual artists of the Fundación Patagonista. On 26 April, the same location featured the opening of an exhibition on “Traditional costumes and jewellery from Macedonia”, which was part of the week of Macedonian culture in Brussels.

Puentes

The Puentes Festival was coordinated by the Embassy of Argentina to Belgium and was a cultural, artistic and academic exchange between Argentina and Belgium, to which the name - "Bridges" - was deliberately chosen to highlight the close historical and cultural ties between the two countries. Through various artistic activities, the project aimed at intensifying the reach of Argentine art and culture in order to increase the contact and interaction between the Argentine and Belgian public.

During the opening, guests enjoyed not only the works of art, but also the activities of the Alibi Collective, a trio of actors who moved between the guests unannounced, performing small (surprise) acts and improvisations. The available Flemish and Argentine culinary specialties were appreciated as well.

Earlier in the day, the public was treated to an impressive performance by the “Ukulogical Museum”, who showed off their free interpretation of the history of the Ukulele.

Macedonia

Together with the Macedonian Minister of Culture Mrs Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska, Secretary-General Koen Verlaeckt opened the exhibition “Traditional costumes and jewellery from Macedonia” as part of the week of Macedonian culture in Brussels. The event was coordinated by the Ministry of Culture and the Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in Belgium, with support of the Flemish Department of Foreign Affairs. Flanders and the Republic of Macedonia have been maintaining good relations for a considerable time.

The exhibition featured 12 sets of traditional folk costumes and jewellery from different regions of the country from the late 19th to early 20th century. According to Mrs Kanceska-Milevska, the exhibition was of great importance for her country because Brussels is the heart of the European civilisation and traditional costumes and jewellery are characteristics of a nation and its culture. Valuable artefacts are an opportunity to get acquainted with the spiritual and material heritage of Macedonia.